Careers

Internships at Synagri / Internship FAQ

We have interns in each region (Rive-Sud, Quebec City, Rive-Nord, head office and Eastern Ontario, Vaudreuil-Soulanges).

Why so many interns?

Each year, we assess the need for interns with our regional sales managers. They supervise several representatives (team of about 40 representatives and technical support personnel). A number of these representatives are agronomists and technologists with decades of experience. The average age at Synagri, particularly among those in key positions such as representative, is quite high. We have therefore made the corporate decision to encourage the next generation to take on the challenges presented in internships so that they can forge a place for themselves on our team.

What exactly do they do during their internship?

That depends on the region in which they are located. We are currently organizing an open house so that interns can come together to fill out employment documents, receive a Synagri shirt, and meet our product experts, our managers and their supervisor. In most cases, they will be working with an experienced representative who will introduce them to the clients. We will provide them with information on our products, such as hayracks, and they must try to discuss them with producers. In certain regions including Quebec City and Rive Nord, Synagri has developed a “Cereals Expert” [Experts cereals] program. Producers agree to allow us to use part of their field, to purchase our products and to follow all of the application advice provided by Synagri. We carry out certain calculations to show producers that, based on the profitability of their land, they made the right decision to invest in us. We are extending this program to the Rive Sud region as the “Corn Experts”[Experts maïs] program. Since summer 2013, we have also had open research and development internships with our team of R&D experts.

What are the requirements to become a Synagri intern?

Other than being registered in a program related to our field (TPA [animal husbandry technology], TPHE [farm management], GEEA [horticulture and environmental technology], agronomy, agricultural economics), we do not have a preference for whether interns are first or second year, etc. We are looking for dynamic young people with a passion for their field of study, who are responsible and independent, and who enjoy working as part of a team.

Are there job opportunities with the company after the internships?

In 2012, we hired two interns, who are still with us. Of the 15 interns in 2012, 2 returned in 2013. Of the 17 interns in 2013, we hired 2 this fall and 1 this winter. The goal of the internship at Synagri is to give participants an idea of what is involved in working here, to show the dynamics and expertise. We also want to see what the interns have to offer us and where they might fit in our organization!

Do you encourage interns to continue their studies?

Definitely! In 2013, we introduced a bursary program to encourage interns to return to school in the fall following their internship. The company will provide $500 to each student who completes two consecutive internships with Synagri and returns to full time studies the following fall. We already have confirmation that two 2013 interns will be returning in the summer of 2014 – a good sign for Synagri!